Justin Jefferson shouldn't be solely eyeing a 3rd consecutive standout season with the Minnesota Vikings, but in addition aiming to cement himself as the very best broad receiver within the league. It is a title he believes belongs to Las Vegas Raiders All-Professional Davante Adams — for now.
"After this 12 months, I’ll be the very best receiver within the NFL," Jefferson informed Advanced. "I positively have to offer it to Davante Adams as of now, him being so loopy and dynamic on the sector. His route operating is loopy, so I positively have to offer it to him proper now, however I’m fairly certain after this 12 months it’s going to be me."
How precisely does he plan on doing that?
"[I'm] all the time engaged on my recreation," Jefferson mentioned. "I’m all the time engaged on route operating, all the time can work on catching the ball, so simply attempting to higher my craft in any respect of these completely different classes."
Jefferson — the No. 22 total decide within the 2020 NFL Draft — has had two electrifying seasons within the NFL up to now, totaling 196 receptions, 3,016 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns.
The 23-year-old Professional Bowler, who has already expressed his want to make the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame, aspires to be "legendary" identical to the gamers who've influenced him over time.
"I’m simply attempting to be up with these greats, attempting to be subsequent to them within the Corridor of Fame," Jefferson mentioned. "I didn’t count on to be on high of the league this quickly, however all the exhausting work I’ve performed and all the issues that I’ve sacrificed in my profession and in my life to make myself one of these participant — it’s positively a blessing."
He went on to say that he would not carry a chip on his shoulder for being the fifth receiver drafted in 2020.
"At this level, my stats show that I’m the very best one popping out of that draft of receivers, so I assume you may say I’m just about proving my level … that I’m the very best receiver in that draft class," Jefferson mentioned. "I simply must preserve going, preserve doing extra issues, preserve bettering myself and bettering my craft."
The 4 receivers taken earlier than Jefferson within the 2020 draft have been Henry Ruggs, Denver's Jerry Jeudy, Dallas' CeeDee Lamb and Philadelphia's Jalen Reagor. Jefferson boasts extra targets, receptions, receiving yards, yards per reception and touchdowns than any of these 4. Actually, Lamb is the one one who comes remotely shut.
Since his 2020 debut, Jefferson's 3,016 receiving yards not solely lead the league however are probably the most in a participant's first two seasons in NFL historical past. He is additionally the primary participant to document 1,400-plus yards in every of his first two seasons, and he wants simply 1,148 yards this upcoming season to surpass Randy Moss (4,163 yards from 1998-2000) for probably the most yards in a participant's first three seasons.
In 2021, Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins and Jefferson generated an 80.7 complete EPA — the change within the anticipated factors worth from pre-play to post-play. That was the second-highest mark within the NFL behind solely Los Angeles Rams Tremendous Bowl duo Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp (115.0 EPA), per Subsequent Gen Stats.
